Very few cycling enthusiasts can boast owning 8 bikes, but 54-year-old Ghislain Simons from Lontzen is a special case. The father of two keeps no less than 8 Eddy Merckx Bikes at home. He’s a big fan of the Eroica, the legendary vintage cycling event in Tuscany. “And my bikes always draw attention in The Boot,” he winks.

There’s no better cycling name than Ghislain — it immediately brings to mind Ghislain Lambert, the main character of the cult film starring Benoît Poelvoorde. This Walloon rider, as always, rides for Cyclo Club de Baelen and was inspired for his Italian trip by his best friend Michel Schimtz, who has been living in Italy for 25 years. “He insisted that one day, we had to ride the Eroica of Montalcino together.”

“Michel claimed the Eroica was completely different from similar events, like those in Valkenburg. I had to admit he was right. The atmosphere there is heartwarming, the people incredibly enthusiastic, and the roads and scenery are breathtaking—there’s nothing quite like it!”

Ghislain was determined to ride a Belgian bike in Italy. “And what could be better than an Eddy Merckx? I found a 1976 Kessels Merckx in my size. (Kessels was a bike builder from Ostend who made many bikes for the Cannibal.) I fully dismantled the bike. Among other things, the chainrings, cables, and handlebar tape had to be replaced. That kind of restoration work is exactly what they love to see in Italy! The bike may not be worth much in terms of money, but the sentimental value is enormous for me. And it marked the beginning of my passion.”

Ghislain gradually expanded his collection. He bought a Molteni kit from that golden era and had cycling shoes sent over from Bruges. He even managed to score FIAT apparel online. “When you at Eddy Merckx Bikes celebrated the Cannibal, I wore a vintage yellow jersey—another piece of cycling heritage.”

As a cyclist since the early 1970s, Ghislain still remembers the final years of the Cannibal. “I’ve always had great admiration for someone who, to me, represents ‘the true Belgian.’ After his career, he remained successful with his bicycle brand, and I share his love for Belgium. That love is what drew me into the world of Eddy Merckx Bikes. The bikes are always beautifully finished and of high quality. I’m not talking about the two old Kessels Merckx bikes, which—so to speak—are built from heating pipes,” he laughs.

“I’ve been told that the real Eddy Merckx bikes date from the 1980s. They were built in Meise and could be custom ordered, fully tailored to the rider. That’s why you rarely see two identical bikes—and they’re such collector’s items. The biggest teams rode these bikes, and you should be proud of that.”

But Ghislain’s quest isn’t over yet. “There are two models I would really love to own. I wouldn’t mind at all if you decided to reissue them,” he adds. “One is a cyclocross model from the 1980s, with the gear shifters still mounted at the ends of the handlebars. The other is a model from 1980–1981, with Eddy’s signature engraved in the frame beneath the seat post. Those would complete my collection.”